flag

fly (one's) freak flag

slang To behave in or embrace an unusual, unconventional, or uninhibited manner or mode of being. My parents are rather conservative, so it's liberating to be in college where I can fly the freak flag without worrying about their reprisals.My favorite music tends to come from artists who aren't afraid to fly their freak flags a bit.

freak flag

Any unconventional, nonconformist, or uninhibited behavior, convictions, opinions, or lifestyle choices that are unique to an individual. My high school literature teacher taught me to always be true to myself and to wear my freak flag proudly.

raise a red flag

To offer a sign or signal indicating potential, incipient, or imminent danger or trouble. Didn't the fact that your accountant used to be a drug dealer raise a red flag or two when you started doing business with him?Well, it definitely raised a red flag when he got so angry at me over such a minor thing, but I never thought he could be so unreasonable to live with!

red flag

A sign or signal indicating potential, incipient, or imminent danger or trouble. There are a couple of red flags you need to look out for to make sure your company stays in the black.Well, it definitely raised a red flag when he got so angry at me over such a minor thing, but I never thought he could be so unreasonable to live with!

be like a red flag to a bull

To be a willfully infuriating or aggravating provocation; to be something that incites great anger or annoyance. An allusion to matadors' practice of waving red flags at a bull during a bullfight, though the color of the flag actually makes no difference to the animal. John's gone to gloat about his success over his brother, which is like a red flag to a bull, if you ask me.You do realize that bringing your new girlfriend to your ex-wife's house is like a red flag to a bull, right?

a red flag to a bull

A willfully infuriating or aggravating provocation; something that incites great anger or annoyance. An allusion to matadors' practice of waving red flags at a bull during a bullfight, though the color of the flag actually makes no difference to the animal. John's gone to gloat about his success over his brother, which is a red flag to a bull if I've ever seen one.You do realize that bringing your new girlfriend to your ex-wife's house is like a red flag to a bull, right?

show the flag

To stand up for, support, or defend someone or something. A number of people from the actor's hometown are arriving into New York to show the flag at his debut performance on Broadway.My country is often a target for insults or gibes abroad, so whenever I go traveling I make a point of showing the flag for it.

hoist (a/the) white flag

To offer a sign of surrender or defeat; to yield or give in. After the prosecutors brought forward their newest evidence, the defendant hoisted the white flag and agreed to the plea bargain.We've been in negotiations for weeks, but it looks like the other company might finally be ready to hoist a white flag.

show (a/the) white flag

To offer a sign of surrender or defeat; to yield or give in. After the prosecutors brought forward their newest evidence, the defendant showed the white flag and agreed to the plea bargain.We've been in negotiations for weeks, but it looks like the other company might finally be ready to show a white flag.

wave (a/the) white flag

To offer a sign of surrender or defeat; to yield or give in. After the prosecutors brought forward their newest evidence, the defendant waved the white flag and agreed to the plea bargain.We've been in negotiations for weeks, but it looks like the other company might finally be ready to wave a white flag.

white flag

A signal of surrender or defeat; a sign that one going to yield or give up. (From the literal white flag originating in military use, which signaled a protective truce or ceasefire so that negotiations could be arranged.) The president's speech today was seen by many as a white flag regarding his controversial stance on the immigration debate.We've been in negotiations for weeks, but it looks like the other company might finally be ready to wave a white flag.

red-flag term

A word that is particularly offensive or controversial and thus sparks an immediate emotional reaction. The phrase may reference the red flag because it is the tool traditionally used by matadors to aggravate bulls. How dare you say a red-flag term like that to me, your own mother!Please don't say any red-flag terms at this dinner party.

flag down somebody/something

wave the flag

alsoshow the flag

to defend and support someone or something Marsalis waves the flag better than anyone and attracts new fans to jazz all the time. Brown's job is to show the flag for the president and remind voters that he is working for them.

Usage notes: also used in the form fly the flag: When she was in jail, several newspapers flew the flag for her.

Put the flags out!

flag down

Signal to stop, as in The police were flagging down all cars. This expression uses the verb flag in the sense of "catch the attention of, as by waving a flag," a usage dating from the mid-1800s; down was added in the first half of the 1900s.

white flag, show the

Also, hang out or hoist the white flag . Surrender, yield, as in Our opponents held all the cards tonight, so we showed the white flag and left early. This expression alludes to the white flag indicating a surrender in battle, a custom apparently dating from Roman times and adopted as an international symbol of surrender or truce. [Late 1600s]

But MassDOT figures provided to NECIR show that the average hourly rate for flaggers in low bid contracts submitted from 2009 to 2011 is about $32 an hour for flaggers - far less than the $37 average hourly rate for a detail officer.

A total of 16 civilian flaggers were working traffic details at state road construction sites yesterday, and transportation officials said they have designated 71 road construction projects where flaggers would be used this year.

Use of civilian flaggers would be encouraged on local projects, at the discretion of local officials, but police details would still be required for state work on heavily traveled roadways and interstates.

BOSTON - The state's top officials yesterday said they will change the use of police details at road construction sites to allow civilian flaggers on secondary and tertiary road projects, but a police union official doubts the changes will be widespread.

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